Articles and Gender in Portuguese: A Clear Guide
In Portuguese, nouns have grammatical gender, which can be masculine or feminine. This affects the articles and adjectives used with these nouns. Understanding gender is essential for proper sentence construction.
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The rule
In Portuguese, every noun is assigned a gender, either masculine or feminine. The definite articles are 'o' for masculine nouns and 'a' for feminine nouns. The indefinite articles are 'um' for masculine nouns and 'uma' for feminine nouns. While there are patterns to help determine the gender of nouns, exceptions exist, so it's important to learn them as you encounter new words.
Articles and Gender at a glance
| Ending | Gender |
|---|---|
| -o | Masculine |
| -a | Feminine |
| -ção | Feminine |
| -dade | Feminine |
| -mento | Masculine |
| -ema | Masculine |
| -or | Masculine |
| -ista | Common (depends on context) |
Common patterns for guessing gender in Portuguese nouns
Examples you can say out loud
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Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a noun is masculine or feminine?
Look at the ending of the noun; many follow common patterns, but be aware of exceptions.